When Kicks Off Advent 2025? Embrace the Season of Anticipation for Christmas
Advent is the time that reminds us that Christmas is on the way
The term “Advent” originates from the Latin word “adventus”, which means “coming”. During Advent, the primary colour is dark purple, but after the third Sunday of Advent, it changes to a brighter colour that represents joy, pink. This season is a period of great hope for believers. The Advent tradition goes back to the 5th century in Italy. While in Italy, Advent was seen as a time to prepare for the birth of Christ, in Gaul, it was more about getting ready for Christ’s second coming Christ’s.
When does Advent start in 2025?
In 2025, Advent begins on Sunday, November 30 and continues until Christmas Eve, which is December 24. Each Sunday, a candle is lit on the Advent wreath — there are four candles, representing the four weeks of Advent.
Different countries have their own unique traditions during Advent. For example, in Germany, Advent markets are popular, while in Scandinavia, people celebrate Saint Lucia’s feast, and in Italy, children receive gifts from Befana. In the Czech Republic, Advent is celebrated beautifully, with towns and villages illuminated by lights, and people gathering at markets and nativity scenes. Advent Sundays are known as golden, silver, bronze, and iron, and Christmas markets and decorations make an appearance during this time. Historically, Advent was more about reflecting and preparing for the arrival of the Saviour. People reflected, prayed, fasted, and remembered those who had passed away, which was considered a partial mourning period. This practice was part of the Old Testament tradition. In contrast, the New Testament moved away from fasting, stating that it was mainly for physical purification. As per this understanding, Advent lasts for 40 days, starting from the feast of St. Martin. Traditionally, Christians fasted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while only the faithful carried this out throughout Advent. The practice of having four Sundays of Advent became accepted between the 10th and 11th centuries. The Orthodox Church, however, maintains a six-week Advent.
Alongside Lent and the joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming, Advent also involved various magical rituals and characters. For instance, on the Feast of Saint Andrew (November 30), girls would throw rolled-up scarves from their thighs to see whose would fly out first, predicting who would marry first. The scarf that flew out the highest was believed to belong to the girl who would marry first. A similar fortune-telling activity is associated with the feast of St. Barbara (December 4), where girls cut a cherry branch. If it bloomed by Christmas Eve, it was seen as a sign that she would soon marry. Interestingly, this tradition is still practiced in many homes today, particularly in southwestern Moravia.
Symbols of Advent
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- Advent wreath – A beautifully decorated circular arrangement of green branches with four candles, lit one by one every Sunday of Advent.
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- Advent Calendar – A special calendar with 24 doors or pockets, each hiding small gifts or sweets for every day leading up to Christmas.
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- Bethlehem – A nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus Christ.
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- Ladybirds – On December 4, girls gather cherry blossom branches, hoping they will bloom by Christmas, signifying happiness and new beginnings.
Traditional customs and activities in the lead-up to Christmas
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- Setting up Christmas decorations – Brightening homes with lights, wreaths, candlesticks, and other festive décor.
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- Baking sweets – Making traditional treats together, which is a fun family activity during the Advent season.
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- Advent concerts and markets – Enjoying Christmas markets, concerts, and cultural happenings that create a festive atmosphere.
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- Helping those in need – During this time, many engage in charity drives and volunteer work.
Advent wreath and Advent calendar
Advent is closely tied to the Advent wreath. This tradition began in the first half of the 1800s with German Protestant theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern in Hamburg. In 1838, he created a wreath that he hung on the door of the orphanage where he worked, placing a candle on it for each day leading up to Christmas. Next to the wreath, there was a box for donations to support abandoned children during the Christmas season. Over time, the meaning of the Advent wreath evolved in the interwar period and spread to other European nations, becoming more decorative and intricate.
The candle’s flame represents Christ’s flame of love, intended to bring light to everyone. The candles are not the usual red; instead, the traditional colours are purple and pink, as mentioned earlier. Purple stands for solemnity (liturgy), while pink signifies the joy associated with the coming of Jesus Christ. The pink candle may be lit on the third Sunday known as Gaudete.
Another important part of Advent is the Advent calendar, which started in Munich in 1908 in the form of a paper cut-out. Gerhard Lang created double-sided sheets of paper with 24 boxes containing poems and corresponding images on the back. This was called “In the Land of Jesus” but wasn’t initially popular. However, during World War II, Advent calendars became a propaganda tool in Germany, and afterward, their popularity grew worldwide.
Hanukkah Festival of Lights
Lighting candles is an ancient practice in Jewish tradition that goes back more than 2,000 years, celebrated during the Festival of Lights, known as Hanukkah. On Hanukkah, eight lights on special candlesticks are lit in sequence. According to Ashkenazic tradition, the first night, one candle is placed on the right side of the menorah. The next night, another candle is added to the left, but the leftmost candle is lit first. This tradition continues for the following nights. Hanukkah follows the Jewish calendar, starting on different dates each year (between late November and late December), and lasts for eight days. Many Jews believe that Hanukkah is only linked to Christmas because both occur around the same time, but it serves a completely different purpose. The candle lighting symbolizes victory for good over evil, freedom over oppression, and knowledge over ignorance.
This holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt over 2,100 years ago. Previously, the temple had been defiled by non-Jewish worship practices of the Syro-Hellenistic rulers. Hanukkah also celebrates the miracle of the oil. According to the Talmud, upon arriving at the Temple, the Jews found just one jar of oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, that oil lasted for eight days, allowing time to prepare new oil. To remember this miracle, candles are lit and meals made with oil are enjoyed.
